17th Battalion the Gemunu Watch

This battalion was declared open in 16th October 2014 at Vellamkulam. Lt Col KHK Kottawaththa was the first commanding officer of this battalion and Maj RS Palayangoda was the 1st second in command of this battalion. They gave their fullest attribution and support to the humanitarian operation while fulfilling the all administrative requirements of the battalion in hard crucial situation in humanitarian operation with the help of 08 officers , 125 students and 45 professional soldiers .
Then this battalion engaged in humanitarian operations under the 57 division , to recover the area of  Paranthan.For the victory of Paranthan junction C company victory  has given their fullest involvement . At that period Second Lieutenant T B A.R.B. Gunawardana who was the officer commanding of C company has done a great job to get success of that mission.

After that this battalion was established at Mankulam under command of the Task Force 3 and continued their operations in Oddusudan, while facing so many difficulties under critical situation. Then they were able to recover the Mullayawelli due to their hard working.    After that there was a crucial battle with terrorists and they fight hard and were able to kill few LTTE leaders and many terrorists under 681 Bde. This mission was very important directly for the victory of final humanitarian operation .This battalion fight with charls Anthony and his team and able to destroy them after a brutal fight. During the final stage of the humanitarian operation LTTE got the civilians under their custody. To secure those innocent civilians this battalion  worked hard, without thinking of their lives .That period the commanding officer of this bayyalion was Lieu tent Colonel K.H  K Kotawaththa and  Second in command Major P.A. J Rodrigo RWP ,operation and training officer  Major U.J.S Sarathchandra and caption W.M.Aberathna,R.S.P. showed their colours and did a great job.

At the last moment terrorists tried to destroy the front security circle. And the battalion try to secure it from terrorists attacks and both parties lose lots of their members .At the last moment the leader  of the LTTE Welupillei Prabhakaran was died and that was the end of this war . It was a great proud occation to the whole battalion for getting a chance to engage in the final war  up to the final movement. 

At the last mission there were 97 solders passed away and more than 400 people got injured.
After the last humanitarian operation in 2009.10.14 this battalion was attached to the 51 Division and deployed in Mirisuwil area.At that time this battalion was performed duties in mirisuwil,kodikamam,Maseri  and done so many civil affairs activities for civilians under the 522 Brigade.

Presently this battalion is deploy in arali, Kayts Island from 10th Dec 2010 and conducting many civil activities for civilians and secure the area as a best battalion in Jaffna peninsula.

DURING THE HUMANITARIAN OPERATION.

RESUMING DUTIES OF FIRST COMMANDING OFFICER

RESUMING DUTIES OF SECOND COMMANDING OFFICER

SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTALION ON 2010.10.16

2011 NEW YEAR FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS

Former Commanding Officers: